Born in rival social classes in Tudor London, heir to the throne Edward Tudor and penniless Tom Canty have more in common than one might think. They meet by chance and, amused by how similar they look, swap clothes. Here follows a tightly woven plot of mistaken identity as Edward, dressed in Tom’s rags, is thrown out of the palace while Tom is forced to undertake royal duties. Through colourful humour, rising tension and visual detail, Twain conjures a moral lesson of equality which is just as pertinent in today’s society as it was for the Tudors.

This edition has an afterword by author and journalist, Nicolette Jones.